Press wheel attachment for grain drills



Aug. 7, 1951 w. A. HYLAND EI'AL PRESS WHEEL ATTACHMENT FOR GRAIN DRILLS Filed Sept. 18, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 m D .TM S NY V m m R M O A T R T L 4 A Mu Y m .w u n F H c. i i B oo 8 mm a x 8 a 8 mo. m m wv Om mm Aug. 7, 1951 w. A. HYLAND ET AL 2,563,172

PRESS WHEEL ATTACHMENT FOR GRAIN DRILLS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 18, 1944 IN V EN TORS WILLIAM A. HYLAND ROYCE R. BORNGRAEBER Aug. 7, 1951 w. A. HYLAND ET AL PRESS WHEEL ATTACHMENT FOR GRAIN DRILLS 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 18, 1944 N OE WILLIAM A.HYLAND RO CE RBORNGRAEBER Aug. 7, 1951 w. A. HYLAND ET AL 2,563,172

PRESS WHEEL ATTACHMENT FOR GRAIN DRILL-S Filed Sept. 18, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INV WILLIAMAH s YCE R.BORNGRA ERER Patented Aug. 7, 1951 1 PRESS WHEEL;ATTACHMENT FUR GRAIN :DRILLS Y 'William AglF'Hyland and'Royce R; Borngra ebcr, "H'Oricon; 'Wis.,' assignors 'to John Deere-Van Brunt'Company, a corporation of Wisconsin Application September 18,1944, Serial N o..554-,653

8 Claims. 1

.i Theplpresent...invention; relates: generally to 1. grain drills and ....similar oagriculturalhimplements, andlmore. particularly is concerned with Hgrainrdr-ills that. may be .convertedfrom an end .wheeltype .of grain. drill to apress Iwheel type.

of .grainodrill.

The object and general nature 'of the present inventionlislthe provision of a new and improved grain ..drill. 1. this.rinventionrisjhe. provision. of, grain. drill, ;structure.in whichmthegrain drill may .be manu-" vfactured eitheras .an end wheeltype .of' drill or :a press wheel. type and in-whichthe grain d'rill isrsomconstructed and arranged. that-a .maximummumber of partsare common. .Addition- .-a1ly,.it is afeatureJof.thisninvention to, provide .a structure... in .thenature of an attachment Further an important feature. of

which may be. .n'tilizedlto .convertsanlend'wheel type of grain dr illuinto a press wheelgraini drill.

Another-important feature ofthe present. invention is the provisionof a. press .wheel, grain drill having newand improved .means .for connecting the drawbars for .the press. Wheels with .the main frame of thedrill.

.These. and other objects an'di'advantagesl of the-present invention will be apparent. to '..those skilled in the art. after. a. consideration ofthe followingdetailed description... taken. .in obnjunction with the. accompanying drawings in which the preferred .form of-lthe invention has been illustrated.

In the drawings: Figures 1 and 2 are. sideviews of a grain drill in which the princip1es.of.the present invention have been incorporated.

Figures 3 and 4.-are .plan.jviews Toflthe grain rdrill. shownin Figure. 1,...certainparts being omitted for purposes of..clarity in Figure 4.

Figure 5 is. a. partial or fragmentary: rear view, looking forwardly; showing .in, particular the equalizing linkage.

Figure 6 is aeviewtaken-generally along the line 6-6 of Figure 4, showing thechain guard, chain tightener. and vassociated parts. i

. Figure '7 is a fragmentary view,. showing'the .mounting of the-rear portion bf the'chain guard .on the press wheel axle, Figure 7 being a view taken generally along the line 1-1. of Figure 6. Figure 3. is .a fragmentary viewshowing the attachment of .thepresswheel. drawbars to the front. angle of. the frame and association with thedrawbarsforthe furrow. openers.

Referring. now .to..the drawings. more ,par-

- ticularly to Figures 1..ancL2, rfeferencenumeral l. indicatesthe seedflbox ofLthegrain drill. "The ends "of'the .seed :box are 'carriedby brackets or end pieces 2 'on'the main .frame' 3 ofithe grain drill.

angle 4 and. a rear frame .angle 5,.Jooth extendextending frame members" 6. "carries the usual ".Jseeding mechanism Theimainrframe 3"includes a front. frame ing generally transversely .of the implement and connected together by generally fore and "aft 'The1seed. box I (not shown)" which .is*"driven;by a seedingilshaft 1,

and the latter in turn, isidriven in any suitable manner, from ajackshaft 8 mounted for rotation on theframei3; "as" by being. i'journaledrin forward portions llof the' end brackets .2.

l When theigrain drill'is arranged as anrend wheeldrilL'drop axles ll arenconnected rigidly to the rear frame angle; 5 ,by' bolts 13 andhalso by struts l4:or"the' like; which are connected at their upper'endsttdthe adjacent: cross"' 'frame bar 6. 'A Wheel 15," preferably"ofdtheltYDe adapted ,to receive new 'or used automobile tires, is mounted on the drop axle H and is connected .throughsuitable means (notshown) such as a chain and sprocket"arrangement; to drive. the

jacksh'aft fl. Since "the 'present invention is moreparticularly related to the .press wheel at 'tachment 'byzwhich a. grain drill. iof this ,type

..may be converted 'either during .manufacture .or' .at'some: subsequenttime, into a grain d'rill .of'the. press wheel type, and since the drop axle and associated,parts are'removed when the press wheel attachmentis used, abrok'en line showing of these parts has been. used inFigure 1 to show the. position ofthe drop. axle -l Iv and associated j parts when the, grain drill is manufactured and/or arranged as an end wheell drill.

Also, when thegrain drilliszarranged as an end wheel drill, a hitchframe I1 is rigidly' connected to j the main' frame 3 atits rear end and at its'. forwardxend is. provided with a hitch plate I 8 .by

.40 .on a; propelling tractor, the wheels I5 supportwhich the front end.of .the' drill may be carried 'ing the rear portion of the drill, .as in conventional machines. "For purpose of "clarity," the hitch frame "has also-been shown in broken lines since }this part .is .not present vwhenithe .presswheelattachment is used.

Whenthegrain'ldrill is to be arranged or manufactured. or assembled as a'press' wheel drill, .the parts above referred'to are 'removedand'the 7 When manufactured and/or assembled 'as a press parts now to be described substituted therefor.

. Wheel drill; a fore-carriage 'or'hitchstructure 2| '.,is provided. Thei'fore-icarriage.2l"comprises a pair 'offorwardly'convergingiangles'fl connected ,atxtheir" rear ends; "as at 23,' to certain "of'zthe longitudinal frame bars 6. Forward of their rear ends the frame bars 22 are connected by hook bolts 24 to the front frame member 4. The fore-carriage 2| also includes a rearwardly extending hitch member 25 which is bolted at its rear end to the central longitudinal frame bar 6 and, forwardly thereof, is connected by a bracket 28 to the central portion of the front frame angle 4. The three bars 22 and 25 at their forward ends are arranged in converging relation and are connected, as by bolts 3|, to barreceiving extensions 32 that are formed on a swivel sleeve member 33. The latter includes a sleeve section 34 in which the upper end 35 of the forked spindle 36 is disposed. The lower forked section 31 of the member 36 straddles a front wheel 38 which is connected to the forked spindle by suitable bearing means. yoke 4| is connected, preferably by bolt means 42, to the lower ends of the forks 31 and also embraces the wheel 38. A U-shaped bracket 44 is secured in any suitable manner, as by welding or the like, to the front portion of the drawbar yoke 4|. The bracket 44 pivotally receives the rear end of a drawbar 45 which, at its forward end, carries a hammer strap 46, the forward end of which is apertured in alignment with an aperture in the front end of the drawbar 45, thus providing for convenient attachment to the.

illustrated, three gangs of press wheels 50 .are provided, mounted on the three axles The axles 5|, in turn, are connected to the rear ends of three pairs of drawbars 52. The rear end of each drawbar carries a pair of clips 54 spaced apart longitudinally of the drawbar and arranged to receive the trunnions of a bearing member 55 through which the associated axle 5| extends. The drawbars are thus connected with the axles 5| so as to be capable of independent movement' in a generally vertical direction so that the press wheels press withsubstantially uniform pressure down against the soil above the deposited seed with uniform pressure irrespective of irregularities in the ground over which the machine passes. The grain drill l is normally provided with a plurality of furrow openers 60, each furrow opener being connected with the frame 301' the grain drill by a drag bar structure 6|. Each drag bar structure 6| includes a pair of forward I 1y divergent members 62 apertured at their forward ends and also centrally. The rear ends of each pair of bars 62 are connected together to a spout casting 63 to which a furrow opener 60, preferably a disk, is attached for rotation'.--- The center apertures in the bars 62. receive bolts or other fastening means by whicha spacer clip '65 is disposed between the bars 62 for bracing and reenforcing them. The forward. ends of the bars 62 are pivoted to the front frame angle 4 by a plurality of brackets 66 that arefaste'n'ed. in any suitable way to the front frame angle. Preferably, each bracket 66 is in the form of a ,U-

shaped member, the ends of which are. apertured.

to receive a pin 61 or the like that forms the A drawbar In the preferred form of the invention, as

4 pivotal connection between the drag bars 6| and the frame 3.

The press wheel attachment drawbars 52 are pivotally connected to the front frame member 4 in the following manner (Figure 8): First, the spacing clips are removed from the bars making up the two adjacent drag bars 6|, and then the two center bars 62 are removed from the associated brackets 66. Next, a somewhat longer pivot pin 61 is installed with the forward end of the press wheel attachment drawbar 52 in between the ends of the associated bracket 66. Lastly, the ends of the center drag bar members 62 are placed over the ends of the pivot member 61' but now. outside the associated bracket 66. The members 61 and 61' may take the form of pins, bolts or the like, as desired. It will be noted that the drawbars 52 are thus pivoted to the grain drill frame 3 by the same means that pivotally connects the furrow opener drag bars 6| and that the connectionmay be made in a simple and convenient manner. The rear ends fof the drawbars making up the pair of drawbars are connected by a cross bar 69. As best shown in Figures 4 and 5, the ends of each cross bar 69 are apertured and receive suitable pins or bolts H by which a U-shaped clevis 12 is attached to each end of each of the cross bars 69. Each clevis I2 is slotted so as to engage over the rear portion of the associated drawbar 52, and a pin or bolt 14 extending through the latter serves to connect the clevis I2 and its associated drawbar 52. The two pivots 1| and 14 by which each end of each bar 69 is connected to the associated drawbars 52 thus provide a considerable amount of flexibility so that the above-mentioned independent pivotal movement of the drawbars is accommodated.

The three pairs of drawbars 52 are connected are connected with the rear frame angle 5 by equalizing linkage 86 which will now be described. A pair of brackets 8| are bolted, as at 82, to the rear flange of the rear transverse frame member 5 and each bracket extends generally downwardly and rearwardly therefrom. Each bracket 9| consists of a pair of plate members 83 bent into suitable shape so as to embrace at their forward ends the flange of the angle 5 and, attheir rear ends, to embrace the associated pair of equalizing bars 86. These equalizing bars 86 are arranged in pairs, being held in spaced apart relation by suitable spacers. Two of such equalizing bar assemblies are provided. The laterally inner ends of the two bar assemblies are pivoted, as at 9|, to the central portion of the central cross bar 69,and the laterally outer ends of the equalizing bar units 86 are pivotally connected, as at 92,

to the generally central portion of the laterally outer cross bars 69. Each pair of equalizing bars 86 is pivoted, as at 93, to the downturned portions 94 of the associated bracket 8|, a bolt or pin serving as the pivotal connection between wheel drill, the jackshaft 8 was driven from one or both of the end wheels. However, where the end wheels have been removed and the press wheel attachment connected in place, means is provided for driving the jackshaft, or both of them in case two are provided, from one ormore of the press wheel axles 5|! This means will now 2 be described. Referring flrstto Figures 16 and 7,

it will be seen that the laterally outer ends of the laterally outer press wheel axles 5I are apertured to receive a pair of pins IOI by which a i drive sprocket I02 is fixed to the associated press wheel axle 5|. A chain I is trained around each sprocket I02 and extends generally forwardly and is trained around a sprocket I03 on the adjacent portion of the jackshaft 8 associated as to provide an enclosure protecting the chain $00. A cover I is provided for the rearportion of the chain guard I05 and is secured thereto in any suitable manner.

The side walls of each chain guard I05 are apertured to receive a pivot pin H2 upon which a chain tightener lever H3 is mounted. The upper end of the lever or arm I I3 carries an idler H4 over which a portion of the chain IE0 is trained, and a second idler I I5 is mounted on the pivot pin H2 and the chain I00 trained over the second idler, as best shown in Figure 6. A U-shaped angle H8 is fixed to the side walls I05 and I 07 of each chain guard and at its lower end is bolted, as at II9 (Figure 5), to the associated cross bar 59. At their rear ends the side Walls I05 and I01 of each chain guard I05 are slotted, as at I2I (Figure '7), to permit passing the chain guard into position over thepress wheel axle 5|. These portions of the chain guard side walls are apertured to receive bolts or rivets whereby a pair of ring bearings I22 may be attached to the walls of the chain guard. The ring bearings 122 are formed so as to receive and having bearing support on the associated press wheel axle 5I.

As best shown in Figure 6, the upper flight or run of the chain I00, which is slack, passes underneath the frame angle 5 and thence generally forwardly and upwardly over the sprocket I03. A chain slide I25 is secured by a bolt I21 to the rear frame angle 5 in the plane of each of the chains I00. Each chain slide is formed with an overhanging flange I28 which overlies the edge of the angle 5 and a lower arcuate section I29 which is adapted to receive the slack flight of the chain I00 and prevent the latter from contacting the angle 5.

While we have shown and described above the preferred structure in which the principles of the present invention have been incorporated, it is to be understood that our invention is not to be limited to the particular details shown and described above, but that, in fact, widely different means may be employed in the practice of the broader aspects of my invention.

What we claim, therefore, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a press wheel drill, a main frame, a jackshaft thereon, a fore-carriage supporting the front portion of said main frame, a plurality of draw bars pivotally connected at their forward ends to said main frame and extending rearwardly of the latter, said draw bars being arranged in three pairs, each pair having a connecting cross bar connecting the draw bars of that pair together, an axle supported by the draw bars of each pair, press wheels mounted on said axle, equalizing linkage connected between the main frame and said cross bars, said linkage being connected with the generally central portion of the cross bars of the outer pairs of draw bars, a sprocket fixed to each laterally outer press wheel shaft laterally outwardly of said qualizing linkage, a sprocket on said jackshaft in line with each of said first mentioned sprockets, a chain guardat each side of said drill, and

means supporting said chain guard on th'eassociated press Wheel axle and cross bar so as to dispose said chain guard laterally outwardly 'of said equalizing linkage.

2. The invention set forth in claim 1, further characterized by said jackshaft being spaced from the axes of pivotal connection between said'draw bars and said frame, and chain tightening means carried by each of said chain guards.

3. A press wheel drill comprising a main frame, a plurality of draw bars pivotally connected at their forward ends to said main frame and extending rearwardly of the latter, a plurality of press wheels, axle means supported by said drawbars and receiving said press wheels, certain of which are fixed thereto whereby the rotation thereof serves to turn said axle, cross bars fixed to said drawbars forwardly of said press wheels and connecting said drawbars in pairs, a jackshaft on said frame, a sprocket on at least one of said press wheel axles, means including a sprocket chain for driving said jackshaft from said press wheel axle, and a chain guard protecting said chain comprising a casing, means supporting said casing at one end on said press wheel axle, and means supporting the other end of said casing on the associated cross bar. I

4. The invention set forth in claim 3, further characterized by said sprocket chain passing underneath the rear portion of said frame, the

lower flight of said chain being taut during operation and the upper flight being slack, and means carried by said frame to prevent collision between the slack flight of said chain and the adjacent portion of said frame.

5. The invention set forth in claim 3, further characterized by a chain guard supported at one end on said press wheel axle and at the other end on the associated cross bar, and chain tightening means carried by said chain guard.

6. A press wheel drill comprising a main frame, a plurality of drawbars pivotally connected at their forward ends to said main frame, a plurality of press wheels, axle means supported by said drawbars and receiving said press wheels, crossbars fixed to said drawbars and connecting said drawbars in pairs, a jackshaft on said frame, a sprocket on at least one of said press wheel axles, means including a sprocket chain for driving said jackshaft from said press wheel axle, and a chain guard protecting said chain comprising a casing, means supporting said casing at one end on said press wheel axle, and means supporting the other end of said casing en the associated crossbar.

7. In a press wheel drill, a main frame, a jackshaft thereon, a plurality of drawbars pivotally connected at their forward ends to said main frame, said drawbars being arranged in pairs,

each pair having a connecting crossbar connecting the drawbars of that pair together, an axle supported by the drawbars of each pair, press wheels mounted on said axle, equalizing linkage connected between the main frame and said crossbars, a sprocket fixed to each press wheel shaft laterally outwardly of said equalizing linkage, a sprocket on said jackshaft in line with each of said first mentioned sprockets, a chain guard at each side of said drill, and means supporting said chain. guard on the associated press wheel axle and crossbar so as to dispose said chain guard laterally outwardly of said equalizing linkage.

- 8. A press wheel drill comprising a main frame, a plurality of drawbars pivotally connected at their forward ends to said main frame and extending rearwardly of the latter, a plurality of press wheels, axle means supported by said drawbars and receiving said press wheels, seedin means on said main frame adapted to be driven from said press wheels, driving means extending from said axle means to said seeding means, a guard for protecting said driving means comprising a casing, means supporting said casing at one end on said press wheel axle means, a crossbar connecting said drawbars, and pivot means rockably supporting the other portion of said casing on said crossbar.

WILLIAM A. HYLAND.

ROYCE R. BORNGRAEBER. 1

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 433,036 Rhodes July 29, 1890 514,798 Whitman Feb. 13, 1894 612,602 Cease Oct. 18, 1898 691,322 Packham et a1 Jan. 14, 1902 778,999 Pelton Jan. 3, 1905 795,248 Case July 18, 1905 1,170,117 Schutt Feb. 1, 1916 1,274,062 Holland-Letz July 30, 1918 1,314,863 Fetzer Sept. 2, 1919 1,452,286 Bozard Apr. 17, 1923 1,866,912 Schwab July 12, 1932 2,314,235 Morris Mar. 16, 1943 

